A system and method for providing, as a service over a computer network (especially a packet-switched computer network) to a body of merchants connected to the computer network, verification of consumer identification based on data provided over the computer network by scanning devices attached to the computers operated by consumers.
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1. A computer-implemented method for enrolling consumers, the method comprising: receiving a request to enroll a consumer, the request including a merchant identifier uniquely identifying a merchant of a plurality of merchants and an identity of the consumer; determining whether the identity of the consumer in the request is for a new account; and responsive to a determination that the identity of the consumer in the request is for a new account: instructing the consumer in the request to perform a scan from a scanning device for verification at the merchant; receiving a scanning result from the consumer, wherein the scanning result includes information to identify the consumer; storing the scanning result as a verification data item that is associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer in the request; and generating a random value uniquely identifying the verification data item associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer in the request.
A computer-implemented method enrolls consumers with merchants. The system receives an enrollment request containing a merchant identifier (unique to each merchant) and consumer identity. If the consumer is new, the system prompts the consumer to perform a scan (e.g., fingerprint, facial recognition) at the merchant's location. The scan result, which identifies the consumer, is stored as verification data, linked to both the merchant identifier and consumer identity. A random unique value is generated and associated with this verification data item, merchant, and consumer.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein storing the scanning result comprises replacing a previously stored verification data item associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer with the scanning result.
The consumer enrollment method from the previous description updates existing consumer verification data. Instead of creating a new entry, storing the new scan result replaces the previously stored verification data associated with the same merchant identifier and consumer identity, ensuring the system maintains the most recent scan data.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting the random value to the merchant as a verification of the consumer; and confirming with the merchant associated with the merchant identifier that the request to enroll the consumer is initiated by the merchant.
In the consumer enrollment method, after enrollment, the system transmits the generated random value (associated with the consumer's verification data) to the merchant, serving as verification of the consumer's successful enrollment. Further, the system confirms with the merchant that they initiated the enrollment request, ensuring a legitimate enrollment process.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the verification data item associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer is stored in a database storing a plurality of verification data items for a plurality of consumers, and each verification data item of the plurality of verification data items is uniquely identified by a random value generated from a random seed.
In the consumer enrollment method, verification data (including scan results) linked to merchants and consumers is stored in a database. This database contains verification data for many consumers. Each piece of verification data is uniquely identified by a random value generated from a random seed, ensuring data integrity and uniqueness across all consumers and merchants.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: retrieving a random seed included in the request; and generating a random value based on the retrieved random seed for the verification data item associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer.
The consumer enrollment method retrieves a random seed included in the initial enrollment request. The system then generates the random value that uniquely identifies the consumer's verification data using this retrieved random seed. This allows some degree of merchant control over the random value generation.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the identity of the consumer in the request is for a new account comprises: retrieving a new account indicator from the request, the value of the indicator being set by the merchant identified in the request.
The consumer enrollment method determines if a consumer is new by retrieving a "new account indicator" from the enrollment request. The merchant sets the value of this indicator, signaling to the system whether the consumer is registering for the first time or already has an account.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: responsive to a determination that the identity of the consumer in the request is not for a new account, determining whether a scanning result from the consumer matches verification data item associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer in the request.
The consumer enrollment method handles returning consumers. If the consumer is not new, the system determines whether a new scan result from the consumer matches the existing verification data associated with that consumer and merchant. This is how the system verifies returning consumers.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising: responsive to a determination that the identity of the consumer in the request is not for a new account: instructing the consumer to select a scanning device from a list of scanning devices; transmitting device-specific instructions to the consumer to activate the selected scanning device; and receiving the scanning result from the consumer using the selected scanning device based on the device-specific instructions.
The consumer enrollment method for returning consumers includes device selection. If the consumer is not new, the system instructs them to select a scanning device from a provided list. The system then sends device-specific instructions to the consumer to activate the chosen scanner and receives the scan result obtained using those instructions, tailoring the process to the consumer's chosen device.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the random value uniquely identifying the verification data item comprises: receiving a string of a plurality of random alphanumeric characters selected by the merchant; and generating the random value using the string of the plurality of random alphanumeric characters.
The consumer enrollment method generates a random value using merchant input. The system receives a string of random alphanumeric characters selected by the merchant. This string is then used to generate the final random value that uniquely identifies the consumer's verification data, giving the merchant some influence over the identifier.
10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer program code executed by a computer processor, comprising code for: receiving a request to enroll a consumer, the request including a merchant identifier uniquely identifying a merchant of a plurality of merchants and an identity of the consumer; determining whether the identity of the consumer in the request is for a new account; and responsive to a determination that the identity of the consumer in the request is for a new account: instructing the consumer in the request to perform a scan from a scanning device for verification at the merchant; receiving a scanning result from the consumer, wherein the scanning result includes information to identify the consumer; storing the scanning result as a verification data item that is associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer in the request; and generating a random value uniquely identifying the verification data item associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer in the request.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium contains instructions to enroll consumers with merchants. The system receives an enrollment request containing a merchant identifier (unique to each merchant) and consumer identity. If the consumer is new, the system prompts the consumer to perform a scan (e.g., fingerprint, facial recognition) at the merchant's location. The scan result, which identifies the consumer, is stored as verification data, linked to both the merchant identifier and consumer identity. A random unique value is generated and associated with this verification data item, merchant, and consumer.
11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein storing the scanning result comprises replacing a previously stored verification data item associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer with the scanning result.
The computer readable storage medium from the previous description updates existing consumer verification data. Instead of creating a new entry, storing the new scan result replaces the previously stored verification data associated with the same merchant identifier and consumer identity, ensuring the system maintains the most recent scan data.
12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , further comprising computer program code for: transmitting the random value to the merchant as a verification of the consumer; and confirming with the merchant associated with the merchant identifier that the request to enroll the consumer is initiated by the merchant.
The computer readable storage medium contains instructions. After consumer enrollment, the system transmits the generated random value (associated with the consumer's verification data) to the merchant, serving as verification of the consumer's successful enrollment. Further, the system confirms with the merchant that they initiated the enrollment request, ensuring a legitimate enrollment process.
13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the verification data item associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer is stored in a database storing a plurality of verification data items for a plurality of consumers, and each verification data item of the plurality of verification data items is uniquely identified by a random value generated from a random seed.
The computer readable storage medium contains instructions to store verification data (including scan results) linked to merchants and consumers in a database. This database contains verification data for many consumers. Each piece of verification data is uniquely identified by a random value generated from a random seed, ensuring data integrity and uniqueness across all consumers and merchants.
14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , further comprising computer program code for: retrieving a random seed included in the request; and generating a random value based on the retrieved random seed for the verification data item associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer.
The computer readable storage medium contains instructions to retrieve a random seed included in the initial enrollment request. The system then generates the random value that uniquely identifies the consumer's verification data using this retrieved random seed. This allows some degree of merchant control over the random value generation.
15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein determining whether the identity of the consumer in the request is for a new account comprises: retrieving a new account indicator from the request, the value of the indicator being set by the merchant identified in the request.
The computer readable storage medium contains instructions to determine if a consumer is new by retrieving a "new account indicator" from the enrollment request. The merchant sets the value of this indicator, signaling to the system whether the consumer is registering for the first time or already has an account.
16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , further comprising computer program code for: responsive to a determination that the identity of the consumer in the request is not for a new account, determining whether a scanning result from the consumer matches verification data item associated with the merchant identifier and the identity of the consumer in the request.
The computer readable storage medium contains instructions to handle returning consumers. If the consumer is not new, the system determines whether a new scan result from the consumer matches the existing verification data associated with that consumer and merchant. This is how the system verifies returning consumers.
17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , further comprising computer program code for: responsive to a determination that the identity of the consumer in the request is not for a new account: instructing the consumer to select a scanning device from a list of scanning devices; transmitting device-specific instructions to the consumer to activate the selected scanning device; and receiving the scanning result from the consumer using the selected scanning device based on the device-specific instructions.
The computer readable storage medium contains instructions for returning consumers to select a scanning device. If the consumer is not new, the system instructs them to select a scanning device from a provided list. The system then sends device-specific instructions to the consumer to activate the chosen scanner and receives the scan result obtained using those instructions, tailoring the process to the consumer's chosen device.
18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein generating the random value uniquely identifying the verification data item comprises: receiving a string of a plurality of random alphanumeric characters selected by the merchant; and generating the random value using the string of the plurality of random alphanumeric characters.
The computer readable storage medium contains instructions to generate a random value using merchant input. The system receives a string of random alphanumeric characters selected by the merchant. This string is then used to generate the final random value that uniquely identifies the consumer's verification data, giving the merchant some influence over the identifier.
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September 24, 2015
July 4, 2017
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